Image heating apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image heating apparatus includes a magnetic flux generator for generating magnetic flux; and a rotatable belt including an electroconductive layer which generates heat by the magnetic flux generated by the generator and having flexibility and a cylindrical shape. The generator is outside the belt. The apparatus further includes a back-up member inside the belt member; a rotatable pressor for pressing the belt against the back-up member to form a nip, in which a recording material is nip-conveyed; and a regulator, provided in a sheet passing area of a passable recording material having a maximum size, for regulating movement of the recording material with respect to a longitudinal direction of the belt. The regulator regulates the shape of the belt so that the belt dimension member in a recording material conveying direction is longer than the belt dimension perpendicular to the recording material conveying direction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART

The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus of anelectromagnetic (magnetic) induction heating type suitably used as animage fixing apparatus (device) to be mounted in an image formingapparatus, such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine,or a multi-function machine thereof, for effecting image formationthrough an electrophotographic system, an electrostatic recordingsystem, a magnetic recording system, or the like.

From the viewpoints of energy saving and reducing the waiting time forthe use of the image forming apparatus, as a fixing device, a devicewhich is capable of heating a heating member (fixing member) to apredetermined temperature instantaneously and is reduced in waiting time(WUT: warm-up time) has been desired. As a heating means, in place of ahalogen lamp, a fixing device utilizing an induction heating method hasbeen developed.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) 2002-082549 discloses afixing device utilizing the induction heating method and having thefollowing constitution. The fixing device includes a fixing belt, arotatable heat generating roller internally contacting the fixing beltand having electroconductivity at at least a portion thereof, a fixingroller movably stretching the fixing belt between it and the heatgenerating roller, and an exciting means disposed outside the heatgenerating roller that excites the heat generating roller to be heated.The exciting means excites the heat generating roller to be heated aftera rotational operation of the heat generating roller is started.

In order to reduce the WUT, as a constitution using a heat generatingbelt, not a heat generating roller, for lowering thermal capacity, thereis a technique as described in JP-A Hei 10-074007. This techniqueemploys a fixing device such that a thin heat generating belt having anelectroconductive layer is induction-heated by a magnetic fieldgenerated by a magnetic field generating means and an unfixed tonerimage on a recording material (medium) is fixed in a nip between theheat generating belt and a pressing member opposing the heat generatingbelt. Further, inside the heat generating belt, a pressing (urging)member having an elastic layer is provided and is caused to press theheat generating belt against the pressing member to form a nip forfixation. The fixing device further includes a regulating member at beltend portions.

Further, JP-A Hei 11-231597 discloses a constitution for improving theheat generating efficiency of induction heating. In this constitution,the distance between a magnetic flux generating coil and an inductionheat generating member is kept at a constant level by a non-magnetic gapholding member and an embodiment in which the magnetic flux generatingcoil is placed outside a main body of the fixing roller is included.

With respect to the fixing device for reducing the WUT, theabove-described conventional constitution using a combination of thethin belt and the induction heating can be considered. By the use of thethin belt, the thermal capacity can be suppressed and it is alsopossible to reduce the WUT. In consideration of durability, aconstitution in which a free belt to which no tension is applied is usedcan be considered. In this constitution, the magnetic flux generatingcoil in the magnetic field generating means is a member formed in anelongated shape in a longitudinal direction thereof perpendicular to arotational direction of the belt and is disposed outside the belt whilekeeping a gap of 0.5 mm to 2 mm with respect to the belt. The belt isbrought near to the magnetic flux generating coil as the exciting meansto be disposed in a high magnetic flux density area, so that efficientheating can be effected. Therefore, the power source frequency can belowered, so that it becomes possible to downsize the power source and toreduce the cost of the power source. However, in the free beltconstitution, the belt causes flapping with respect to itscircumferential direction, so that the distance between the belt and themagnetic field generating means is unstable, thus resulting in a problemof an occurrence of heat generation non-uniformity. As a constitutionfor regulating the belt, such a constitution that the belt is regulatedin its entire longitudinal direction can be considered. However, in thecase where the belt is regulated in its entire longitudinal direction inthe belt fixing device using such a free belt, there arises a problem ofbelt slip due to the occurrence of sliding resistance leading to a largeload with respect to drive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an imageheating apparatus capable of reducing the degree of fluctuation in thedistance between a belt member and a magnetic flux generating meanscaused by rotation of the belt member.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided animage heating apparatus comprising:

a magnetic flux generating unit for generating magnetic flux;

a rotatable belt member including an electroconductive layer whichgenerates heat by the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic fluxgenerating unit and having flexibility and a cylindrical shape;

wherein the magnetic flux generating unit is provided outside the beltmember,

a back-up member disposed inside the belt member;

a rotatable pressing member for pressing the belt member against theback-up member to form a nip, in which a recording material isnip-conveyed, between the pressing member and the belt member; and

a regulating member, provided in a sheet passing area of a passablerecording material having a maximum size, for regulating movement of therecording material with respect to a longitudinal direction of the beltmember,

wherein the regulating member regulates the shape of the belt member sothat when the pressing member forms the nip, the dimension of the beltmember with respect to a conveying direction of the recording materialis longer than the dimension of the belt member with respect to adirection perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recordingmaterial and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the beltmember.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent upon a consideration of thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic structure ofan image forming apparatus in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the fixing device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional front view of the fixingdevice.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a principal partof the fixing device and a block diagram of a control system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a layer structure of a fixing belt.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a capping member and apressing stay which supports a fixing pad.

FIGS. 7( a) to 7(c) are schematic views for illustrating a locus of thefixing device in the case where a guiding member is not provided (FIGS.7( a) and 7(b)) or is provided (FIG. 7( c)).

FIG. 8 is a schematic view for illustrating a position in which theguiding member guides the fixing belt.

FIGS. 9( a) and 9(b) and FIG. 10 are schematic views each showing aprincipal part of the fixing device in Embodiment 2.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are schematic views showing a principal part of thefixing device in Embodiment 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinbelow, the present invention will be described specifically basedon embodiments with reference to the drawings but is not limited to thefollowing embodiments.

Embodiment 1

(1) Image Forming Apparatus

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal schematic view showing the general structure ofan electrophotographic full-color printer 1 as an example of an imageforming apparatus in which the image heating apparatus according to thepresent invention is mounted as a fixing device.

This printer 1 performs an image forming operation depending on imageinformation inputted from an external host device 200 communicatablyconnected with a control circuit portion (control board: CPU) 100, thusbeing capable of forming a full-color image on a sheet P and thenoutputting the full-color image.

The external host device 200 is a computer, an image reader, a facsimilemachine or the like. The control circuit portion 100 as the controlportion sends signals to and receives signals from the external hostdevice 200. Further, the control circuit portion 100 sends signals toand receives signals from various devices for image formation on theprinter side to manage image forming sequence control. As the recordingmaterial, it is possible to use plain paper, a resin material sheet-likeproduct, thick paper, an OHP (overhead projector) sheet, envelope, postcard, label, and the like.

In the printer, first to fourth image forming stations Y, M, C and Bkare disposed side by side from left to right in FIG. 1 with respect to ahorizontal direction (in-line or tandem constitution). Each of the imageforming stations is an electrophotographic process mechanism of a laserexposure type and has the same constitution except that the color of adeveloper (toner) accommodated in a developing device. That is, each ofthe image forming stations Y, M, C and Bk includes a drum-typeelectrophotographic photosensitive member (image bearing member,hereinafter referred to as a drum) 2 rotationally driven in acounterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow at a predeterminedspeed. Around each drum 2, a primary charger 3, a laser scanner 4, adeveloping device 5, a primary transfer blade 6, and a cleaner 7 whichare process means acting on the drum 2 are disposed.

Under the image forming stations Y, M, C and Bk, an intermediary beltunit 8 is disposed. The belt unit 8 includes an intermediary transferbelt 9 which is flexible and endless (hereinafter referred to as a belt)and rollers, around which the belt 9 is extended, including a drivingroller 10, a tension roller 11 and a secondary transfer opposite roller12. The primary transfer blade 6 of each of the image forming stationsY, M, C and Bk is disposed inside the belt 9 and presses an upper beltportion, between the tension roller 11 and the driving roller 10,against the lower surface of the drum 2. A contact portion between eachdrum 2 and the belt 9 constitutes a primary transfer portion. Againstthe secondary transfer opposite roller 12, a secondary transfer roller13 presses the belt 9. A contact portion between the belt 9 and thesecondary transfer roller 13 constitutes a secondary transfer portion.The belt 9 is circulatingly moved in a clockwise direction indicated byan arrow at a speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the drum 2by the driving roller 10.

In this embodiment, the first image forming station Y accommodates thedeveloper of yellow (Y) and forms a Y toner image on the drum 2. Thesecond image forming station M accommodates the developer of magenta (M)and forms a M toner image on the drum 2. The third image forming stationC accommodates the developer of cyan (C) and forms a C toner image onthe drum 2. The fourth image forming station Bk accommodates thedeveloper of black (Bk) and forms a Bk toner image on the drum 2.

The control circuit portion 100 causes each of the image formingstations Y, M, C and Bk to perform an image forming operation on thebasis of a color-separated image signal inputted from the external hostdevice 200. As a result, at the respective image forming stations Y, M,C and Bk, color toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), andblack (Bk) are formed, respectively, on surfaces of associated rotatingdrums 2. The electrophotographic image forming principle and process forforming a toner image on the drum 2 are well known in the art, and arethus being omitted from this description.

The toner images formed on the drums 2 at the respective image formingstations Y, M, C and Bk are successively transferred onto an outersurface of the belt 9, in a superposition manner, which is rotationallydriven in the same direction as the rotational directions of therespective drums 2 at a speed corresponding to the rotational speeds ofthe respective drums 2. As a result, on the surface of the belt 9,unfixed full-color toner images are synthetically formed in asuperposition manner of the above-described four toner images Y, M, Cand Bk.

With predetermined sheet feeding timing, a sheet-feeding roller 15 at astage selected from a plurality of sheet-feeding cassettes 14A and 14Bin which various sheets P having different widths (hereinafter referredto as a sheet) are stacked and accommodated is driven. As a result, onesheet P stacked and accommodated in the sheet-feeding cassette at theselected stage is separated and fed to be conveyed to registrationroller pair 18 through a conveying path 16. When a manual sheet feedingmode is selected, a sheet-feeding roller 19 is driven. As a result, onesheet P placed and set on a multi-sheet feeding tray 20 is separated andfed to be conveyed to the registration roller pair 18 through theconveying path 16.

The registration roller pair 18 once receives the sheet P and, in thecase where the sheet P is obliquely moved, causes the sheet P to move ina straight line. Then, the registration roller pair 18 sends the sheet Pto a secondary transfer portion which is the contact portion between thebelt 9 and the secondary transfer roller 13 in synchronism with thetoner images on the belt 9. As a result, at the secondary transferportion, the full-color synthetic toner images on the belt 9 aresecondary-transferred collectively onto the surface of the sheet P. Thesheet P coming out of the secondary transfer portion is separated fromthe surface of the belt 9 and guided into the fixing device 21. By thisfixing device 21, the above-described toner images of a plurality ofcolors on the sheet P are melted and mixed to be fixed on the surface ofthe sheet P as a fixed image.

The surface of the belt 9 after the separation of the sheet P at thesecondary transfer portion is subjected to removal of residual depositedmatter such as secondary transfer residual toner or the like by a beltcleaner 22 to be cleaned, thus being repeatedly subjected to imageformation.

In the case of a monochromatic (one-side) print mode, only the fourthimage forming station Bk for forming the black toner image is actuated.In the case of the one-side print mode, the path of the sheet P comingout of the fixing device 21 is switched by a switching flapper 23 inaccordance with a predetermined designation to be discharged on aface-up sheet discharge tray 25 disposed on the side surface of theprinter or discharged on a face-down sheet discharge tray 28 disposed onthe upper surface of the printer. In the case of the discharge on thetray 25, the sheet P coming out of the fixing device 21 passes throughthe lower surface side of the flapper 23 placed in a first attitude in astraight line and is discharged on the tray 25 by first sheet dischargerollers 24 with an image surface up. In the case of the discharge on thetray 28, the sheet P coming out of the fixing device 21 passes throughthe upper surface side of the flapper 23 placed in a second attitude andis guided upward, thus being conveyed upward through a conveying path26. Then, the sheet P is discharged on the tray 28 by second sheetdischarge rollers 27 with an image surface up.

In the case of the both-side print mode, the sheet P on which the firstsurface has already been subjected to image formation and fixation andwhich comes out of the fixing device 21 passes through the upper surfaceside of the flapper 23 placed in the second attitude and is guidedupward, thus being conveyed upward through the conveying path 26. When atrailing end of the sheet P reaches a reversing point R during theconveyance of the sheet P, the drive mode along the conveying path 26 ischanged into a reverse conveying drive mode. As a result, the sheet P ismoved back to enter a both-side conveying path in a reversed state. As aresult, the sheet P is subjected to image transfer on a second surface.The sheet P coming out of the secondary transfer portion is guided intothe fixing device 21 again. The path of the sheet P which has beensubjected to the both-side printing and comes out of the fixing device21 is, similarly as in the case of the one-side print mode, switched bythe switching flapper 23 in accordance with the predetermineddesignation to be discharged on the tray 25 or the tray 26. A portionconstituted by the flapper 23, the conveying path 28, and the like is anexample of a reversing means.

(2) Fixing Device 21

The fixing device 21 in this embodiment uses a flexible rotatablemember, (a thin fixing belt having an electroconductive layer (inductionheat generating member)) which generates heat by the action of magneticflux, as the heating member (fixing member) for heating the sheet P. Thefixing device 21 is an image heating apparatus of a belt heating typeand a pressing rotatable member drive type (free belt type) in which thebelt is heated through the induction heating by a magnetic fieldgenerating means (magnetic flux generating means) provided outside thebelt.

In the following description, with respect to the fixing device 21 ormembers constituting the fixing device, a front surface is a surface atwhich the fixing device is viewed from a sheet (recording material)entrance side and a rear surface is a surface (sheet exit side) oppositefrom the front surface. Left and right directions are those in the casewhere the fixing device is viewed from the sheet entrance side. Further,the longitudinal direction is a direction parallel to a directionperpendicular to the sheet conveying direction in a plane of the sheetconveying path. A short direction is a direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction. An upstream side and a downstream side are thosewith respect to the sheet conveying direction. A sheet passing width isa dimension of the sheet with respect to a direction perpendicular tothe sheet conveying direction in a plane of the sheet.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the fixing device, and FIG. 3 is aschematic longitudinal sectional front view of the fixing device 21, andFIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a principal partof the fixing device 21 and a block diagram of a control system.

The fixing device 21 includes a fixing belt unit 31 disposed and heldbetween left and right opposite side plates 51L and 51R of a deviceframe (chassis) 50 at both longitudinal end portions of the belt unit31. The fixing device 21 further includes a pressing roller 32, as therotatable pressing member, disposed and held between the left and rightopposite side plates 51L and 51R at both longitudinal end portions ofthe pressing roller 32. The belt unit 31 and the pressing roller 32 aredisposed vertically in parallel to each other between the side plates51L and 51R. The belt unit 31 and the pressing roller 32 press-contacteach other to form a nip (fixing nip) N, between the pressing roller 32and a fixing belt 34 on the belt unit 31 side, having a predeterminedwidth with respect to the sheet conveying direction (short direction).Further, the fixing device 21 includes an exciting coil unit 33, as themagnetic field generating means for generating the magnetic flux,disposed parallel to the belt unit 31 and held by the device frame 51,on the side 180 degrees opposite from the pressing roller 32 side withrespect to the belt unit 31. The exciting coil unit 33 is oppositelydisposed outside and in non-contact with the belt 34 of the belt unit 31with a substantially constant gap α. 1) Belt unit 31

In the belt unit 31, the belt 34 uses ferromagnetic metal such as ironor the like (metal having high magnetic permeability), so that a largeramount of the magnetic flux generated from the coil unit 33 can beconfined inside the metal. That is, the magnetic flux density can beincreased, so that eddy currents are generated on the metal surface andtherefore the belt is efficiently caused to generate heat. The belt unit31 includes a fixing pad 35 as a back-up member and a pressing stay 36as a pressing member which are inserted into and disposed inside thebelt 34. The fixing pad 35 is a heat-resistant member composed of aheat-resistant resin material or the like. The pressing stay 36 is amolded steel product having rigidity such as SUS or the like and havingan inverted U-like cross-sectional shape. The pressing stay 6 supportsthe fixing pad 35. Further, the belt unit 31 includes a magnetic core(magnetic shielding core) 37 formed inside the belt 34 of aferromagnetic material in the inverted U-like cross section, as amagnetic shielding member, and disposed so as to cover an outer surfaceof the pressing stay 36. The length of the fixing pad 35 and thepressing stay 36 are longer than the length of the belt 34 and protrudefrom the both end portions of the belt 34 toward the outside at left andright (both) end portions of the fixing pad 35 and the pressing stay 36.With the protruded end portions, capping members 38L and 38R are engagedand fitted.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a layer structure of the belt 34 inthis embodiment. The belt 34 is a composite layer belt including acylindrical electroconductive layer (induction heat generating member:base layer) 34 b, an inner layer 34 a provided at an inner peripheralsurface of the electroconductive layer 34 b, and an elastic layer 34 cand a surface parting layer 34 d which are successively laminated on anouter peripheral surface of the electroconductive layer 34 b, thushaving flexibility as a whole and having a substantially cylindricalshape in a free state.

The inner surface layer 34 a is provided to ensure slidability with amember contacting the inner surface of the belt and may preferably havea thickness of about 10 μm to about 100μ. In this embodiment, a 15μm-thick polyimide (PI) layer is used as the inner surface layer 34 a.

The electroconductive layer 34 b is a layer which generates heat by theelectromagnetic induction function of the magnetic flux generated by thecoil unit 33 and is formed and used in an about 1-50 μm thick metallayer of iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, chromium, or the like. There is aneed to reduce the WUT (waiting time) by lowering the thermal capacity,so that the electroconductive layer 34 b may preferably be formed in asmall thickness as thin as possible. In this embodiment, in order tocompatibly realize the heat generating efficiency and the thermalcapacity, as the electroconductive layer 34 b, an about 40 μm-thicklayer of nickel having high electrical conductivity is used.

The elastic layer 34 c may preferably have a thickness as small aspossible in order to improve the quick start property of the belt 34,but requires a certain degree of thickness in order to achieve such aneffect that the belt surface is softened to encompass and melt thetoner. Therefore, the elastic layer 34 c may preferably have a thicknessof approximately 10-1000 μm. In this embodiment, a 400 μm-thick rubberlayer having a rubber hardness (JIS-A) of 10 degrees and a thermalconductivity of 0.8 W/m·K is used.

The surface parting layer 34 d is a layer directly contactable to theunfixed toner image t formed on the sheet P, so that there is the needto use a material having good releasability. As a material constitutingthe surface parting layer 34 d, e.g., it is possible to use atetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinyl ether copolymer (PFA),polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a silicone copolymer, or a combinationof these materials for forming a composite layer, or the like. Thesurface parting layer 34 d is provided as an uppermost layer of the beltin a thickness of 1-50 μm of a material appropriately selected from theabove materials. When the thickness of the surface parting layer 34 d isexcessively thin, durability is poor in terms of its anti-wearingproperty to shorten a life time of the fixing belt 34. On the otherhand, when the thickness is excessively thick, the thermal capacity ofthe fixing belt 34 becomes large, thus undesirably increasing the WUT.In this embodiment, in view of a balance between the anti-wearingproperty and the thermal capacity of the belt 34, a 30 μm-thick layer ofPFA is used.

The magnetic core 37 is disposed inside the belt 34 and opposes the coilunit 33 through the belt 34 and adjusts the magnitude of inducedmagnetic field exerted from the coil unit 33 to the belt 34. Themagnetic core 37 has the function of improving a heat generatingefficiency of the belt 34. Further, the magnetic core 37 also has thefunction of suppressing warming of the pressing stay 36 throughinduction heating by covering an outer surface of the pressing stay 36as the metallic material to block the magnetic flux toward the pressingstay 36. As the magnetic core 37, a material having high magneticpermeability and low loss is used. The magnetic core 37 is used forenhancing an efficiency of a magnetic circuit and for magnetic shieldingwith respect to the pressing stay 36. As a typical example of thematerial for the magnetic core 37, ferrite core is used.

Left and right capping members 38L and 38R are heat-resistant members ofa heat-resistant material and are a molded member having the same shape.FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the left (right) cappingmember 38L (38R) and the left (right) end portion of the pressing stay36 which supports the fixing pad 35.

Each of the left and right capping members 38L and 38R includes apressure-receiving portion 38 a which covers an associated left (orright) end portion of the pressing stay 36 which supports the fixing pad35. The capping members 38L and 38R further include a flange portions 38b, each provided integrally with the associated pressure-receivingportion 38 a, opposing the left and right end surfaces of the belt 34.Further, each of the capping members 38L and 38R includes a guidingmember 38 c, provided integrally with the flange portion 38 b on theinner surface side opposite from the pressure-receiving portion 38 aside, for regulating a rotation locus of the belt 34 from the inside ofthe belt 34 by entering the inside of the belt 34. That is, the guidingmember 38 c has the function of supporting the belt 34 from the insideof the belt 34 at both end portions of the belt 34 and guiding therotation locus of the belt 34. This will be described later. Thepressure-receiving portion 38 a and the flange portion 38 b are providedwith a hole 38 d for permitting insertion of the end portion of thepressing stay 36 which supports the fixing pad 35. In a state in whichthe left and right capping members 39L and 39R are engaged and fittedwith the left and right end portions of the pressing stay 36 whichsupports the fixing pad 35, the pressure-receiving portions 38 a areengaged with vertical guide slit portions 52L and 52R, respectively,provided to the left and right opposite side plates 51L and 51R of thedevice frame 50. As a result, the left and right capping members 38L and38R are guided by the vertical guide slit portions 52L and 52R,respectively, thus being disposed slidably (movably) in a directiontoward the pressing roller 32 and its opposite direction with respect tothe left and right opposite side plates 51L and 51R.

Outside the belt 34, a thermistor TH as a temperature detecting meansfor detecting the belt temperature in order to control the temperatureof the belt 34 is disposed. This thermistor TH is caused to elasticallycontact the outer surface of the belt 34 at its temperature detectingportion by a spring property of an elastic member 53 while a baseportion thereof is held at an end portion of the elastic member 53. Thethermistor TH may also be configured to be disposed inside the belt 34and to elastically contact the inner surface of the belt 34 at itstemperature detecting portion.

2) Pressing Roller 32

The pressing roller 32 is a heat-resistant elastic roller prepared byproviding an elastic layer 32 b of a heat-resistant rubber such as asilicone rubber or a fluorine-containing rubber or of a foam member ofthe silicone rubber, to a metal core 32 a. In order to improve a surfaceproperty, at an outer peripheral surface of the pressing roller 32, afluorine-containing resin material layer 32 c of PTFE, PFA, FEP, or thelike may also be provided.

The pressing roller 32 is rotatably supported and disposed between theleft and right opposite side plates, 51L and 51R through bearing members54L and 54R at both (left and right) end portions of its metal core 32a. At the right end of the metal core 32 a, a drive gear G is fixedlyprovided.

Between the pressure-receiving portion 38 a of the left capping member38L of the belt unit 31 and a left spring receptor 55L provided to thedevice frame 50 and between the pressure-receiving portion 38 b of theright capping member 38R and a right spring receptor 55R, urging springs56L and 56R are provided, respectively, in a compressed state. Apredetermined expansion force F of the left and right urging springs 56Land 56R acts on the fixing pad 35 through the pressure-receivingportions 38 a of the left and right capping members 38L and 38R andthrough the pressing stay 36. As a result, the fixing pad 35press-contacts the belt 34 to press the pressing roller 32 againstelasticity of the elastic layer 32 b, so that a nip N with apredetermined width with respect to the sheet conveying direction isformed between the belt 34 and the pressing roller 32. The fixing pad 35assists formation of pressure profile in the nip N.

3) Exciting Coil Unit 33

The coil unit 33 includes a curved portion which is curved along theouter peripheral surface of the substantially cylindrical belt 34 in asubstantially semicircular range in cross section. The coil unit 33 isdisposed in parallel with the belt unit 31 with respect to theirlongitudinal directions with a predetermined spacing a between its innersurface and the outer surface of the belt 34 on an opposite side fromthe pressing roller 32 side with respect to the belt unit 31. The coilunit 33 is disposed between the left and right opposite side plates 51Land 51R by being attached to the device frame 50 through left and rightbrackets 57L and 57R on its left and right sides.

In this embodiment, the coil unit 33 includes an exciting coil 41, afirst magnetic core 42 a provided at a winding central portion of thecoil 41, and a second magnetic core 42 b provided on a side oppositefrom the belt 34 side with respect to the coil 41. The coil 41 and themagnetic cores 42 a and 42 b are stored in a holder (casing) 43 as asupporting member. The first and second magnetic cores 42 a and 42 b andthe above-described magnetic core 37 provided inside the belt 34 areformed of the ferromagnetic material which may preferably be ferrite orthe like having high magnetic permeability and low residual magneticflux density.

The coil 41 has a substantially elliptical shape (elongated boat shape)with respect to its longitudinal direction and is disposed inside theholder 43 so as to follow the outer peripheral surface of the belt 34.As a core wire of the coil 41, Litz wire prepared by bundlingapproximately 80-160 strands of fine wires having a diameter of 0.1-0.3mm is used. As the fine wires, insulation coating electric wires areused. The Litz wire is wound 8 to 12 times around the magnetic cores 42a and 42 b to constitute the coil 41 to be used. To the coil 41, anexciting circuit 101 is connected, so that an alternating current can besupplied to the coil 41.

The magnetic cores 42 a and 42 b are configured to cover the windingcentral portion and its peripheral portions of the coil 41, thusperforming the function of efficiently introducing AC magnetic fluxgenerated from the coil 41 into the electroconductive layer 34 b of thebelt 34. That is, the magnetic cores 42 a and 42 b are used for anincrease in efficiency of the magnetic circuit 101 and for magneticshielding.

4) Fixing Operation

With predetermined control timing on the basis of the image formationstart signal input from the external host device 200, the controlcircuit portion 100 effects so-called warming up such that thetemperature of the belt 34 of the fixing device 21 is increased up to atemperature suitable for heat-fusing the toner image. The printer 1 isplaced in an image formable state after the surface temperature of thebelt 34 reaches a predetermined temperature of, e.g., 180° C. Thewarming up of the fixing device 21 is performed in such a manner thatthe pressing roller 32 starts its rotation and correspondingly the belt34 starts its circulation movement and at the substantially same time orimmediately after the start of the movement of the belt 34, thealternating current is supplied from the exciting circuit 101 to thecoil 41 of the coil unit 33.

The pressing roller 32 is driven by turning on a fixing motor M (adriving source for rotationally driving the rotatable pressing member).

A driving force from the fixing motor M is transmitted to the drive gearG through a power transmitting system (not shown), so that the pressingroller 32, which is the rotatable pressing member, is rotationallydriven in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.4 at a predetermined speed. By the rotation of the pressing roller 32, africtional force is generated between the surface of the pressing roller32 and the surface of the belt 34 in the fixing nip N, thus exerting arotational force on the belt 34. As a result, the belt 34 is rotatedaround the outer surface of the guiding member 35 by the pressing roller32 at the substantially same rotational speed as that of the pressingroller 32 in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow whileintimately sliding the lower surface of the fixing pad 35 in the fixingnip N at its inner surface. Shifting movement of the belt 34 in thelongitudinal direction due to the rotation of the belt 34 is rotated byreceiving the belt left end surface by the flange portion 38 b of theleft capping member 38L or by receiving the belt right end surface bythe flange portion 38 b of the right capping member 38R.

Further, the control circuit portion 100 turns on an exciting circuit(electromagnetic induction heating driving circuit or high-frequencyconverter) 101. As a result, the alternating circuit (high-frequencycurrent) is caused to flow from an AC power source 102 to the coil 41 ofthe coil unit 33. Then, the magnetic flux indicated by H around the coil41 in FIG. 4 is repetitively generated and turned off. Further, when themagnetic flux H is guided by the magnetic cores 42 a and 42 b to crossthe electroconductive layer 34 b of the belt 34, eddy current isgenerated in the electroconductive layer 34 b so as to create a magneticfield for preventing a change in magnetic field by the magnetic flux H.The eddy current generates Joule heat by the specific resistance of theelectroconductive layer 34 b. That is, Joule heat is generated inproportion to the skin resistance of the electroconductive layer 34 b orthe magnitude of the current passing through the electroconductive layer34 b. By the heat generation of the electroconductive layer 34 b, therotating belt 34 is increased in temperature.

On the other hand, the thickness of the electroconductive layer 34 b ofthe belt 34 is smaller than the skin depth of the belt 34, so that themagnetic flux penetrates through the electroconductive layer 34 b toform a closed path (circuit) toward the magnetic core 37 disposed insidethe belt 34. At this time, the magnetic core 37 is disposed closest tothe belt 34 while keeping a certain distance therebetween, so that theclosed magnetic circuit is in an extremely closed state, in which themagnetic flux density is enhanced effectively to induction-heat the belt34 with no temperature non-uniformity.

Then, the temperature of the belt 34 is detected by the thermistor TH,so that electrical information on the detecting temperature is inputinto the control circuit portion 100 through an A/D converter 103. Thecontrol circuit portion 100 controls the exciting circuit 101 so thatthe belt temperature is increased and kept at a preset temperature(fixing temperature) on the basis of the detected temperatureinformation from the thermistor TH. That is, the control circuit portion100 controls the electric power supply (energization) from the AC powersource 102 to the coil 41.

In the above-described manner, the pressing roller 32 is driven and thebelt 34 is temperature-controlled so as to increase in temperature up tothe predetermined fixing temperature. In this state, the sheet Pcarrying thereon unfixed toner images t is introduced into the fixingnip N with a toner image carrying surface directed toward the belt 34side. The sheet P intimately contacts the outer peripheral surface ofthe belt 34 in the fixing nip N and is nip-conveyed through the fixingnip N together with the belt 34. As a result, heat of the belt 34 isapplied to the sheet P and the sheet P is subjected to the applicationof the nip pressure, so that the unfixed toner images t are heat-fixedto the surface of the sheet P as a fixed image. The sheet P havingpassed through the fixing nip N is separated from the outer peripheralsurface of the belt 34 to be conveyed to the outside of the fixingdevice.

Here, the conveyance of the sheets P having large and small (various)widths or sizes in the printer and the fixing device in this embodimentis performed in a so-called center line basis conveyance mode in which acenter line of the sheet P with respect to a width direction of thesheet P is taken as a reference line. In FIGS. 2 and 3, a referencesymbol O represents a center reference line (a phantom line) for thesheet conveyance. Further, a reference symbol Wmax represents a sheetpassing width of the sheet, having a maximum sheet passing width,capable of passing through the printer or the fixing device.

(3) Regulation of Rotation Locus of Belt 34 by Guiding Member 38 c

As described above, in the case where the belt 34 is driven by aconveying force of the pressing roller 32 with no application of tensionto the flexible thin belt 34 (the free belt type), the belt 34 flapswith respect to its circumferential direction.

FIGS. 7( a) and 7(b) show a result of measurement of a locus of the belt34 by the present invention when the belt 34 is driven by the conveyingforce of the pressing roller 32 without being guided by the guidingmember 38 c. In the case where the belt 34 is driven by the rotation ofthe pressing roller 32 in the nip N without being guided, the belt 34flaps with respective to its circumferential direction.

In order to prevent interference between the coil unit 33 and the thusflapping belt 34, in view of the flapping of the belt 34 (maximum beltlocus), the coil unit 33 is disposed so as to maintain the distance(gap) a with respect to the maximum locus of the belt 34. When thedegree of the flapping of the belt 34 is increased, the distance abetween the coil unit 33 and the belt 34 becomes unstable, so that heatgeneration non-uniformity is caused to occur.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, there is the need tostabilize the locus of the belt 34. In this embodiment, each of the leftand right capping members 38L and 38R includes the guiding member 38 cfor regulating the rotation locus of the belt 34 from the inside of thebelt 34 rotated by the rotational drive of the pressing roller 32.Further, the rotation locus of the belt 34 is regulated only at the bothend portions with respect to the longitudinal direction of the belt 34.That is, the guiding members 38 c disposed opposite to the belt 34 atboth end portions of the belt 34 guide the rotation locus of the belt 34only at the both end portions when the belt 34 is driven by the pressingroller 32.

In this embodiment, the guiding members 38 c are provided to the innerside surfaces of the flange portions 38 b of the capping members 38L and38R as an arcuate eave-like member having an outer diametersubstantially corresponding to an inner diameter of the cylindrical belt34. The capping members 38 c are, as shown in FIG. 3, disposed at bothend portions in non-sheet-passing areas of the sheet P, i.e., disposedoutside the maximum sheet passing width area Wmax of the sheet P, andregulate the rotation locus of the belt 34 at both end portions of thebelt 34 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the belt 34. Morespecifically, the guiding members 38 c enter the inside (inner area) ofthe belt 34 from the left and right end portions of the belt 34, thusperforming the function of supporting the belt 34 from the inside of thebelt 34 and of guiding the rotation locus of the belt 34. That is, thearcuate outer surface of each guiding member 38 c guides the innersurface of the belt 34 to stabilize the rotation locus of the belt 34.The arcuate outer surface of the guiding member 38 c is a position X inwhich the guiding member 38 c guides the belt 34 (FIG. 6). However, inorder to reduce the load on the belt 34, the outer surface of theguiding member 38 c for guiding the inner surface of the belt 34 isconfigured to face the inner surface of the belt 34 partly, not wholly.

The position X in which the guiding member 38 c guides the belt 34 willbe described with reference to FIGS. 7( a) to 7(c) and 8. The belt 34 ina non-load state has a substantially circular shape in cross section. Onthe other hand, when the belt 34 is driven by the rotation of thepressing roller 32 in a pressed state in which the belt 34 is nippedbetween the fixing pad 35 and the pressing roller 32, as shown in FIG.7( a), the belt 34 draws maximum and minimum elliptical loci. Theguiding member 38 c for stabilizing the rotation locus of the belt 34guides the belt 34 so that the rotation locus of the belt 34 is theabove-described elliptical shape in order to reduce the load on the belt34. The rotation locus of the belt 34 guided by the guiding member 38 cis defined, on the basis of the state of FIG. 7( a), by a curvature R1of the guiding member 38 c, a long axis La, and a short axis Lb which isthe distance between the bottom of the fixing pad 35 and an apex portionof the guiding member 38 c. In order to reduce the load on the belt 34by the guiding member 38 c, a circumferential length of the rotationlocus of the belt 34 defined by the guiding member 38 c and the fixingpad 35 is smaller than that of the inner surface of the belt 34.Further, as described above, the guide position X of the guiding member38 c is not present in the entire inner circumferential area of the belt34 but is present in a part of the inner circumferential area of thebelt 34. Further, the shape of the guiding member 38 c is such that theinner surface of the coil unit 33 follows the opposing surface of thebelt 34.

The above-described curvature R1, long axis La, and short axis Lb willbe described. The curvature R1 of the guiding member 38 c is a radius ofan arc when the shape of the belt 34 with respect to the coil unit 33 issubjected to arc approximation as shown in FIG. 8 on the basis of themaximum locus of the belt 34 shown in FIG. 7( a). The long axis La isthe length of the guiding member 38 c having a curved surface with thecurvature R1 with respect to the sheet conveying direction. Further, thelong axis La is determined so that the guide position X at least ensuresthe magnetic flux area indicated by H in FIG. 8 in order to stabilizethe rotation locus of the belt 34 and cause the induction heating in themagnetic flux area H in FIG. 8. The short axis Lb is the height from thebottom of the fixing pad 35 (the fixing nip surface) to the apex portionof the guiding member 38 c.

Specifically, in this embodiment, as the belt 34, the flexible thin belthaving the following features was used.

Inner layer 34 a: 30 μm-thick polyimide (PI)

Electroconductive layer 34 b: 30-40 μm thick Ni layer providing an innermeter of 30 mm

Elastic layer 34 c: 300 μm-thick silicone rubber layer

Surface parting layer 34 d: 40 μm-thick PFA layer

When this belt 34 was driven by the pressing roller 32 without beingguided by the guiding member 38 c, the flapping amount of the locus ofthe belt 34 (belt locus displacement) T shown in FIGS. 7( a) and 7(b)was 1.5 mm at the maximum.

On the other hand, in the constitution in which the locus of the belt 34was guided, the belt locus was guided by the guiding member 38 c havingthe inner diameter of 30 mm (inner circumferential length of the belt34: 94.25 mm), R1 of 15.3 mm, La of 31 mm, Lb of 27 mm, and thecircumferential length of 53.89 mm at the guide position X. Further, thecircumferential length of the locus of the belt 34 defined by theguiding member 38 c was 92.36 mm which was smaller than the innercircumferential length (94.25 mm) of the belt 34.

When the belt 34 is guided by the guiding member 38 c in theabove-described constitution, a result of measurement of a maximum locusand a minimum locus is shown in FIG. 7( c).

In the loci shown in FIG. 7( c), the maximum of the displacement T ofthe belt locus was decreased to 0.26 mm, so that it was possible tostabilize the belt locus.

Therefore, in this embodiment, at the position in which the guidingmember 38 c regulates the rotation locus of the belt 34, the coil unit33 is disposed opposite to the belt 34. That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 and8, the coil unit 33 is disposed at the position in which the guidingmember 38 c opposes the coil unit 33 and is located at the position X inwhich the locus of the belt 34 is stabilized. The amount of the magneticflux generated by the coil unit 33 is a maximum at the position X, inwhich the belt 34 is induction-heated.

By employing this constitution, the flapping of the belt 34 issuppressed, so that the distance between the locus of the belt 34 andthe coil unit 33 can be stabilized to reduce the degree of heatgeneration non-uniformity.

Embodiment 2

FIGS. 9( a), 9(b) and 10 show a principal portion in this embodiment. Inthis embodiment, the pressing stay 36 has a reversed U-like shape withsquare-corned portions in cross section. Further, the guiding members 38c are constituted as separate member from the capping members 38L and38R and are attached and provided to the pressing stay 36. In thisembodiment, each of the guiding members 38 c is provided with a recess38 e to be engaged with the pressing stay 36 and provided with aprojection 38 f to be engaged in a spot (hole) 36 a provided to thepressing stay 36, thus being attached to the pressing stay 36. Otherconstitutions of the fixing device in this embodiment are similar tothose in Embodiment 1.

Also in this embodiment, the left and right guiding members 38 c havethe function of supporting the belt 34 from the inside of the belt 34and of guiding the rotation locus of the belt 34. That is, the arcuateouter surface X of each of the guiding members 38 c guides the innersurface of the belt 34 to stabilize the rotation locus of the belt 34.Further, at the position in which the guiding member 38 c regulates therotation locus of the belt 34, the coil unit 33 is disposed opposite tothe belt 34. That is, the coil unit 33 is disposed at the position inwhich the guiding member 38 c opposes the coil unit 33 and is located atthe position X in which the locus of the belt 34 is stabilized. Theamount of the magnetic flux generated by the coil unit 33 is a maximumat the position X, in which the belt 34 is induction-heated.

By employing this constitution, the flapping of the belt 34 issuppressed, so that the distance between the locus of the belt 34 andthe coil unit 33 can be stabilized to reduce the degree of heatgeneration non-uniformity.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 11 shows a principal portion in this embodiment. In thisembodiment, the guiding member 38 c guides the belt 34 over thelongitudinal direction of the belt 34. The guiding member 38 c has a ribstructure with respect to its longitudinal direction in order todecrease the sliding resistance with respect to the inner surface of thebelt 34. That is, the guiding member 38 c is provided with a rib 38 g.In order to reduce the degree of temperature non-uniformity of the belt34 due to heat conduction from the belt 34 to the guiding member 38 c,the rib 38 g is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to therotational direction of the belt 34. Other constitutions of the fixingdevice in this embodiment are similar to those in Embodiment 1.

In this embodiment, the guiding member 38 c is disposed with respect tothe belt longitudinal direction and has the function of supporting thebelt 34 from the inside of the belt 34 and of guiding the rotation locusof the belt 34. That is, the arcuate outer surface X of the guidingmember 38 c having the rib 38 g guides the inner surface of the belt 34to stabilize the rotation locus of the belt 34. Further, at the positionin which the guiding member 38 c regulates the rotation locus of thebelt 34, the coil unit 33 is disposed opposite to the belt 34. That is,the coil unit 33 is disposed at the position in which the guiding member38 c opposes the coil unit 33 and is located at the position X in whichthe locus of the belt 34 is stabilized. The amount of the magnetic fluxgenerated by the coil unit 33 is a maximum at the position X, in whichthe belt 34 is induction-heated.

By employing this constitution, the flapping of the belt 34 issuppressed, so that the distance between the locus of the belt 34 andthe coil unit 33 can be stabilized to reduce the degree of heatgeneration non-uniformity.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 12 shows a principal portion in this embodiment. In thisembodiment, the guide position X of the belt 34 by the guiding members38 c is located upstream of a perpendicular line A passing through acenter of the width of the nip N (nip short direction central portion)with respect to a conveying direction of the sheet P. Further, at theposition in which the guiding members 38 c regulate the rotation locusof the belt 34, the coil unit 33 is disposed opposite to the belt 34.That is, the guiding members 38 c for guiding the locus of the belt 34are disposed so as to be inclined toward the upstream side of the sheetP conveying direction. Other constitutions of the fixing device in thisembodiment are similar to those in Embodiment 1.

Also in this embodiment, similarly as in Embodiment 1, the left andright guiding members 38 c have the function of supporting the belt 34from the inside of the belt 34 and of guiding the rotation locus of thebelt 34. That is, the arcuate outer surface X of each of the guidingmembers 38 c guides the inner surface of the belt 34 to stabilize therotation locus of the belt 34. Further, at the position in which theguiding member 38 c regulates the rotation locus of the belt 34, thecoil unit 33 is disposed opposite to the belt 34. That is, the coil unit33 is disposed at the position in which the guiding member 38 c opposesthe coil unit 33 and is located at the position X in which the locus ofthe belt 34 is stabilized. The amount of the magnetic flux generated bythe coil unit 33 is a maximum at the position X, in which the belt 34 isinduction-heated.

By employing this constitution, the flapping of the belt 34 issuppressed, so that the distance between the locus of the belt 34 andthe coil unit 33 can be stabilized to reduce the degree of heatgeneration non-uniformity. Further, by disposing the coil unit 33 on theupstream side of the perpendicular line A with respect to the sheet Pconveying direction, the heating source is brought near to the nip N, sothat the WUT can be further improved.

In Embodiments 1 to 4 described above, the belt member is used as theheating member (heat generating member) 34 but even in a constitution inwhich a thinner film member is used as the heating member 34, it is alsopossible to achieve the same effect as in the constitution using thebelt member.

The image forming apparatus and the fixing device may also have aconstitution in which the passing of the recording material is performedon one-side sheet passing basis.

The image heating apparatus according to the present invention can beused not only as the image heat fixing device but also as other imageheating apparatuses such as an image heating apparatus for modifying asurface property (e.g., glossiness or the like) by heating the recordingmaterial on which an image is carried, and an image heating apparatusfor temporarily fixing the image. Further, it is also possible to usethe image heating apparatus of the present invention as an image heatingapparatus for drying the recording material which has been subjected toimage formation in an ink jet manner in an image forming apparatus ofthe ink jet type.

According to the present invention, it is possible to keep the distancebetween the belt and the magnetic field generating means at asubstantially uniform level. As a result, it is possible to provide animage heating apparatus of an electromagnetic induction heating type inwhich the degree of the heat generation non-uniformity can be reducedand the free-belt constitution providing the small thermal capacity,good thermal responsiveness, and the reduced waiting time is employed.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structuresdisclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and thisapplication is intended to cover such modifications or changes as maycome within the purpose of the improvements or the scope of thefollowing claims.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.320764/2008 filed Dec. 17, 2008, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

1. An image heating apparatus comprising: a magnetic flux generatingunit configured to generate magnetic flux; a rotatable endless beltmember including an electroconductive layer which generates heat by themagnetic flux generated by said magnetic flux generating unit and havingflexibility, wherein said magnetic flux generating unit is providedoutside said belt member; a back-up member disposed inside said beltmember; a rotatable contacting member configured to contact said beltmember to form a nip with said back-up member between said belt memberand said contacting member, in which a recording material isnip-conveyed, between said contacting member and said belt member,wherein when said nip is formed, at least a part of said belt member hasan elliptical shape; a regulating member configured to regulate movementof the belt member from an inside of said belt member, wherein saidregulating member regulates movement of said belt member in a shape suchthat said regulating member follows the elliptical shape of said beltmember; and flanges, disposed at both end portions of said belt member,configured to support said belt member, wherein each of said flanges isprovided with said regulating member.
 2. An apparatus according to claim1, wherein said regulating member has a shape following a shape of asurface where said magnetic flux generating member opposes said beltmember.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising amagnetic core disposed inside said belt member and disposed in a sheetpassing area, said magnetic core being spaced from said belt member inthe sheet passing area.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,said regulating member is disposed only outside a range, with respect toa longitudinal direction of said belt member, in which a recordingmaterial of a maximum size passes through said image heating apparatus.5. An apparatus according to claim 1, said regulating member regulatessaid belt member at a position in which said regulating member opposessaid magnetic flux generating unit.
 6. An apparatus according to claim1, wherein, said regulating member opposes a part of an innercircumferential area of said belt member with respect to acircumferential direction of said belt member.
 7. An apparatus accordingto claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to drive saidcontacting member, wherein, said contacting member drives said beltmember.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ellipticalshape of the part of the belt member has a long axis with respect to arecording material conveying direction and a short axis with respect toa direction perpendicular to the recording material conveying direction.